A Russian appeal against its ban from the Rio 2016 weightlifting competiton has been rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

The verdict was the main revelation included in a resume of the state of play in a whole series of cases involving Russian athletes released on Wednesday by CAS just as International Olympic Committee (IOC) members were approving five new sports for the programme of the Tokyo 2020 Games.

The release leaves open the possibility that a significant number of additional Russian athletes may yet get clearance to compete in Rio, whose Opening Ceremony is now just 48 hours away. 

The weightlifting decision was clear-cut.

CAS ruled that International Weightlifting Federational (IWF) regulations to ban nations for action which, “by reason of conduct connected with or associated with doping or anti-doping rule violations, brings the sport of weightlifting into disrepute” were “valid and was properly applied in the circumstances”.

Other points of note were as follows:

The high-profile case pitting swimmers Vladimir Morozov and Nikita Lobintsev against FINA, the international aquatics federation, has now moved on to the specially-designated three-member IOC panel for a final decision.

The current suggestion is that this panel – consisting of IOC members Claudia Bokel, Ugur Erdener and Juan Antonio Samaranch – may not announce its decision on this and other matters until Thursday evening (August 4).

Erdener and Samaranch may both soon be elevated to the rank of IOC vice-president.

Another high-profile case pitting world 100 metres breaststroke championYulia Efimova – rumoured to be lodging in the hotel where the IOC Session is taking place - against the IOC, FINA and Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) will resume tomorrow.

The case pitting wrestler Viktor Lebedev against the ROC, the IOC and United World Wrestling will be heard “after the Efimova case has been decided”.

The same applies to a case involving Daria Ustinova, another swimmer.

The canoeing case pitting Andrey Kraytor against the IOC and the International Canoe Federation (ICF) is another one before the IOC panel.

Three rowers – Ivan Balandin, Anastasia Karabel and Ivan Podshivalov – are involved in hearings taking place today.

Four more weightlifters and three cyclists have filed applications today.